KEY LEGISLATION

1958 
PL 85-926: National Defense Education Act - Provided funds for training professionals to train teachers of the mentally retarded

1961
PL 87-276: Special Education Act - Provided funds for training professionals to train teachers of the deaf.

1963
PL 88-164: Mental Retarded Facility Act - Provided support to train teachers of other handicapped categories

1965
P. L. 89-10: The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA): Principles of this act seemed to imply that the instruction of “deprived” students required unusual concessions to their academic deficits rather than the creation of educational settings based on the concept of equality.  Provided money to states and local districts for developing programs for economically disadvantaged and handicapped.

P. L. 89-313: The Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendments of 1965. Authorized grants to state institutions and state operated schools devoted to the education of children with disabilities. It was the first Federal grant program specifically targeted for children and youth with disabilities.

1966
P. L. 89-750: ESEA Amendments of 1966. Established the first Federal grant program for the education of children and youth with disabilities at the local school level, rather than at state-operated schools or institutions. It also established the Bureau of Education of the Handicapped (BEH) and the National Advisory Council (now called the National Council on Disability).

1968 
Hobson vs Hansen – Declared the tracking system which used standardized tests for placement decisions unconstitutional because discriminated against black and poor children

1969
PL 91-320: The Learning Disabilities Act - Defined learning disabilities and provided funds for state-level programs for learning disabilities. First legal recognition of “learning disability” as a category of exceptionality.

1970
Diana vs. State Board of Education (California) - Declared children could not be placed in special education on the basis of culturally biased tests or tests given in languages other than the child’s native language

1971
Mills vs Board of Education the District of Columbia Established the right of every child to an equal opportunity for education; lack of funds not an acceptable excuse for lack of educational opportunity

1971
Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens vs the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Established the right to free public education for all retarded children

1973
Vocational Rehabilitation Act: Sec. 504 - Declared that handicapped people cannot be excluded from any program or activity receiving federal funds based on the handicap alone

1975
Public Law 94-142: The Education of All Handicapped Children Act - Mandated free, appropriate public education for all handicapped children regardless of degree of severity of handicap. Protected rights of children and their parents in educational decision making.

1986
PL 99-457: Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments –

Required states to extend free and appropriate education to children with disabilities ages 3-5.  Established early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities from birth to 2 years

1990
PL 101-336: Americans with Disabilities Act – Prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in the private sector; protected equal opportunity to employment, public services, transportation, and telecommunications; and included people with AIDS under category of disability

PL 101-476: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Renamed and replaced PL 94-142

Established “people first” language for people with disabilities

Extended special education services to include social work, assistive technology, and rehabilitation services

Extended provisions for due process and confidentiality for students and parents

Added two new categories of disability:  autism and traumatic brain injury

Required states to provide bilingual education programs for students with disabilities

Required states to educate students with disabilities for transition to employment and to provide transition services and to provide individual plans by the time a student is 16

1992
P. L. 102-119: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1992. Primarily addressed the Part H (Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities) Program.

1997
PL 105-17: IDEA - The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments. The Current Law!

Required that students with disabilities continue to receive services even if expelled from school

Allowed for developmental delay category to be extended to onset through age 9

Required schools to assume more responsibility for ensuring that students with disabilities had access to the general curriculum

Allowed special education teachers to assist general education students when needed

Required a general education teacher to be a member of the IEP team

Required students with disabilities to take part in state-wide and district-wide assessments

Required proactive behavior management plan in IEP